Cigar lighter



y 9, 1929- E. B. WILBER 1.720.534

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed March 29, 1928 Inag, a

Inventor: Edward B. Wi lber,

HIS Attorney.

Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES CIGAR LIGHTER.

Application filed March 29, 1928. Serial 1T0. 265,584.

My invention-,relates generally to cigar lighters,-and more particularly to the type of lighter having a wick and an igniting device including a rotatable wheel.

These lighters ordinarily include a fuel reservoir having a wick tube provided with a removable cap, and an igniting device mounted adjacent the wick tube consisting of a rotatable wheel having a .bit of pyrophoric metal or the like retained against the same. When it is desired to ignite the wick it has been heretofore necessary to remove the-cap froin the wick tube and then draw the thumb across the wheel of the lighting device to produce sparks which ignite the wick. It will be observed that this involves two'distinct operations: First, removing thecap from the wick tube to expose the wick, and then actuating the igniting device. Now the object ofm invention is to construct a lighter of this type so that the removing of the wick tube cap and actuation of the spark producing device can be done in the single operation of drawing the thumb across the wheel of the spark produc ing device. I accomplish this by providing means associated with the wick tube-cap for raising the same from the wick tube in response to drawing the thumb across the wheel of the spark roducing device.

My invention wil be more fully set forth in the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. I

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lighter embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, partly broken away; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig.2 showing the wish tube cap raised to one side of the wick tu e.

Referringto the drawing, the lighter in connection with which I have illustrated 'my invention comprises a fuel reservoir 10 having a wick 11 which is supported therein by a wick tube 12. In order to protect the wick, prevent evaporation or absorption of fuel therefrom and also provide an extinguisher therefor, a cap 13 is arranged over the wick tube and attached to an arm 14 which is pivotally connected'to the reservoir.

at 15 so that the cap can be readily swung upwardly and to one side of the wick tube when it is desired to ignite-the wick. The wick is ignited by a spark producing means consisting of a rotatable wheel 16 of the usual form having a bit of pyrophoric'uu-lal retained against the same by a springanil adjusting screw' 17 arranged in a tube 17.- The tube 17 is secured at 18 to the top of the reservoir and is formed with a shield-19 for protecting the wheel 16. The wheel 16 is adapted to be rotated by a knurled thumb wheel 20 connected thereto havingits axis parallel to the axis'of the wick tube and arranged so that the periphery thereof extends slightly over the edge of the top of the reservoir 'so as to facilitate drawing the thumb over the same in igniting the. wick.

In accordance with my invention the wick tube cap is provided with means for raising the same in response to drawing the thumb over the thumb wheel of the igniting device. In the particular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, which is merely illustrative-of one manner of carrying out my invention, I do this by arranging the wick tube cap 13 in the path of movement of the thumb when it is drawn across the knurled wheel 20. so that the cap 13 is raised from the wick tube to the position 'shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 when the thumb is A drawn across the knurled wheel. From this position it is snapped to the position'showu in full lines iii Fig. 3 by the action of a spring 21 and follower 22 which engages a cam surface .24 formed on the end of the arm 14. The spring and follower are arranged in a recess 23 drilled in the top'ol the reservoir vertically below the pivotal support for the arm 14, and are retained therein by the pivotal support 15 so as to compress the spring .21. The cam surface is formed so that when the cap is on the wick tube the .point of contact between the PATENT oFF-icia.

cam surface and the follower 22 is to the.

right of the pivotal support 15, whiclrcauses the spring to exert a eounterclo'ekwiscturning moment on the arm 14.. as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, and to urge the same against;

causes the spring 21 to exert a clockwise turning moment on the arm 14, as viewed in Fig. 3.

In the foregoing described construction whenthe lighter is grasped in the hand and the thunib is drawn across the knurled wheel 20, sparks are produced which ignite the wick as the wick tube ca is raised by the thumb from the wick tu e tothe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3." This raising of the cap 13 causes the spring 21 to exert a turning moment on the arm 14 which snaps it to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3,

so that the cap will not interfere with theflame at the wick. When it is desired to extinguish the wick the cap 13 is snapped downwardly into engagement with the wick tube against which it is retained by the spring 21. It will thus be seen that I have-provided a lighter of the character described in.which the removal of the wick tube cap from the wick and the actuation of the spark producing device can be readily done in'a single movement of the thumb across the wheel of-the spark producing device.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art of the particular form of my invcntionabove described, so that I do not desire to belimited to the construction shown 7 and described except pended claims. v

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination with a lighter comprising a wick tube, means forigniting the wick as defined in the apincluding a rotatable wheel mounted adjacent said wick tube and adapted to be actuated by drawing the thumb over the same, a'cap ar ranged over said wick tube, a portion of said cap being arranged in the path of movement of the thumb in actuating said wheel, and

means responsive to drawing the thumb over.

ranged over said wick tube, a portion of said cap being arranged in the path of movement of the thumb in actuating said wheel. -a-

pivotal support for said cap, and means responsive to drawing the thumb over said wheel for turning said cap on its pivotal support and raising the vsame from said wick tube.

3. Incombination with a lighter comprising a wick tube, means for igniting the wick including a rotatable wheel mounted adjacent said wick tube and adapted tofbe actuated by drawing the thumb over the same, a cap arranged over said wick tube, a portion of said cap being arranged in the path of movement of' the thumb in actuating said wheel, a pivotal support for said cap, means including aspring for urging said cap into engagement with said wick tube and for raising said cap from said wick tube in response to drawing the thumb over said wheel.

4. In combination with a lighter comprising a reservoir having a wick tube, means for raising said cap from said wick tube in response to drawing the thumb over said wheel.

'5. In combination with a lighter comprisinga wick tube, means for igniting the wick including a rotatable wheel mounted adjacent said wick tube with its axis extending along the axis thereof and adapted to be actuated by drawing the thumb over the same, a cap arranged over said wick tube having a portion arranged in the path of movement of the thumb in actuating said wheel, means for pivotally supporting said cap including a cam, means including a spring ongaging said cam for urging said ca into engagement with said wick tube w on it is moved into engagement therewith, said cam being formed and arranged to raise said cap from said .wick tube when said cap is slightly raised from said wick tube by movement of the thumb in actuating said wheel.

In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand this 28th day of March, 1928.

- EDWARD B. WILBER.' 

